Education for the disadvantaged children
There is no
alternative to ensuring equitable access to quality primary education for out-of-school children
Speakers at a daylong induction workshop titled Urban Slum Children Education Programme in Rajshahi city recently laid stress on the need for bringing all the children especially those belonging to the underprivileged families and living in slum areas under primary education to flourish them properly. There can be no second opinion to this. Primary education is the foundation for the future grooming up of a student. If it is based on a weak foundation, it will play havoc with the entire educational life of a student.
It is clear as the daylight that quality education eludes the children belonging to underprivileged classes. Hundreds of children living in slums are deprived of the light of education. As a result, they are turning into street urchins and are developing criminal propensities. This is a very disturbing phenomenon. Children from urban areas as well as from remote rural areas should enjoy the equal facility of education. There should not be any discrimination in matters of receiving quality education. But it is not happening in many cases.
When the government has taken various measures for promoting education in the country, the school dropout problem is still a matter of concern. Many primary schools in remote rural areas lack infrastructural facilities and competent teachers, hampering education. The government has announced a number of incentives, including midday meal and some financial incentives, to lure students to come to schools. These measures should be strengthened further in the interest of education.
Only by receiving the right kind of education a person can explore the job market and get established in professional life. In this way, he/she can improve their economic conditions and contribute to the overall development of the country. Quality education should not be confined to a section of elite class rather it will have to be disseminated to the larger section of the people. There should not be any compromise regarding quality education as it concerns countrys future development and economic prosperity and wellbeing.
It is heartening that the government has a plan to reduce the number of out-of-school children to zero per cent in the next five years. It would also establish a social safety net through providing monthly education stipends for the children to check the dropout trend. There is no alternative to ensuring equitable access to quality primary education for out-of-school children. Concerted efforts of all concerned especially teachers, guardians, and community people can help achieve the goal.
